Tribute to Fontella Hunt, My Mother

By Darvell Hunt

Today is the first Sabbath day without my Mother. It is a strange feeling. From this point on, my life is different.

I got published today. Well, in the newspaper, anyway. I wrote for the Lehi Free Press for two years, so this doesn't seem like a significant accomplishment, yet it is. It was one of the most important pieces of writing I have ever created, even though it was edited considerably for brevity after I finished it. That's okay, though. It's not creative writing. It's informative.

My Mother's obituary was published today in Utah County's Daily Herald newspaper. My daughter saw it and was surprised. She wanted to know how the newspaper got a picture of her grandmother.

I've cut and pasted the obituary as it appears in the Daily Herald this morning. It's not quite in the form that I wrote it, but editors never seem to leave your writing alone, anyway, so I guess that's okay.

Here's to you, mom! Thanks for being there.

Obituary for Fontella Howes Hunt, as it appears in today's Sunday Daily Herald newspaper:

Fontella Howes Hunt, age 69, lost her final battle with cancer and passed away in Pleasant Grove on May 17, 2006. She was born on June 21, 1936, in Marysvale, Utah, as the daughter of John Taylor Howes and Florence Norma Johnson Howes. She married G. David Hunt, of Roosevelt, Utah, on August 7, 1959, in the Logan Utah LDS Temple.

Fontella was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and actively served in many ward positions. She and her husband, David, served two stake missions and a five-stake family history mission. She also served a full-time mission with her husband at Martin's Cove in Wyoming.

Fontella is survived by her husband, G. David Hunt, of Pleasant Grove; four children and spouses with twelve grandchildren: Darvell & Gayla Hunt, of Saratoga Springs; DeVere & Toni Hunt of Idaho Falls; Alene & Wayne Weakley of Pleasant Grove; Udell & Susan Hunt of Jackson, MI; her two sisters and brother: Shirley (Russell) Lee, Ogden; DeLyle (Leonard) Allsup, Orem; Roger (RuthAnna) Howes, Hinckley; and sister-in-law, Sandra Howes, Cedar City. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers: Norman and Gerald, and three grandchildren: Kyler, Maygen, and Alexis Weakley.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, May 24, 2006 at 11:00 am in the Timpanogos Third Ward Chapel, 520 N 400 E, Pleasant Grove. Family and friends may call Tuesday evening from 6-8 pm at Olpin Family Mortuary, 494 S 300 E, Pleasant Grove and at the church on Wednesday one hour prior to services.

Graveside services will be in the Cedarview Cemetery near Roosevelt, Utah at 5:00 pm.Condolences may be sent to the family at www.olpinfamilymortuary.com.

Daily Herald Obituary for Fontella Hunt.